VARC Week 2:

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 1:

 Identifying the ideas of each paragraph

 Analysing the structure of the passage and relationship between passages
 Recognizing the traps

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 2: Comprehending Sentences (What)

Essential Information in a sentence – subject, verb and object

Non-essential information in a sentence – modifiers: that describes subject, object or verb.

Sentences can be broken down into smaller chunks to identify and retain essential information

LEARNING FROM LESSON 3: Comprehending Sentences 2 (Why)

There are two types of sentences –

1. Facts based sentences

2. Opinion based sentences

They help us identify the purpose of the sentences and therefore, help us to comprehend the
passage better.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 4: Comprehending Paragraphs

Every passage has a different structure.

Every paragraph will have 4-5 lines. There will be only one idea in that paragraph. Rest of the
sentences would be supporting sentences and reconfirming sentences. You must identify and retain
the main idea only.

Pause at but, however, etc., as the author is going to contradict the earlier mentioned points.
LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 5: Comprehending Paragraphs part 2

The purpose and the tone of the passage are strongly interlinked. The purpose is reflected in the
tone. Broadly, there are 2 tones:

 Expository – when the author is just explaining something. He is very neutral and does not
give his opinion. You cannot feel the author presence while reading. [facts, description]

 Evaluative – when the author is involved and you can feel his presence. Depending on his
level of presence, it can be divided into:
a. Argumentative – when author presents his opinion and then provides strong
statements to support his position on that idea (negative or positive, pros or cons)
b. Analytical – when the author is just analysing (pros and cons) and does not take a
very strong position. Although weak, you can feel the presence of the author.

LEARNING FROM LESSON 6: Comprehending passages

Read for structure -> Retain key idea present in every paragraph

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 7: Comprehending passages part 2

Understanding the author’s purpose (why) of writing something helps us to better understand the
structure.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 8: Comprehending passages part 3

After reading every paragraph, ask the question why the author has written it. Make Mental notes of
all the key idea in the paragraph and then connect all the key ideas of all the paragraphs to form the
structure of the passage. This structure will help you understand the main idea of the passage.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 9: Option Traps part 1

There is no best answer option. There is only 1 correct answer option and to identify the 1 correct
answer we must look for flaws in the other answer options.

BEAST Strategy

B – Broad: Very generic or not specific

E – Extreme: Use of words like always, cannot, all, surely, best, never etc.

A – Alien Option: Not mentioned in passage

S – Side tracked option: True statement which are mentioned in the passage but not directly related
to the question

T – Tone mismatch: Not consistent with the author’s tone

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 10: Option Traps part 2

Rotten words – one word that can make the option wrong

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 11: Option Traps part 3

Read -> Retain -> Recall?

Take a pause of few seconds after reading each paragraph and reflect on the key points

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 12: Global Questions part 1

Broad understanding of the passage is required to answer these questions.

2-4 global questions are asked in CAT

These are primarily of 3 types:

a) Main Idea questions

b) Primary Purpose questions: is to [verb – tone] [main idea]
c) Structure questions
d) Tone questions
e) Title questions
f) Passage source questions

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 13: Global Questions part 2

Employ BEAST strategy to analyse the options and look for the flaws in every answer. Best answer is
not the right answer. Right answer is the answer that is flawless.

Chunk the paragraphs and absorb it to better understand the passage.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 14: Local Questions part 1

Local questions are of 2 types:

1. Closed questions – these types of questions are usually restricted to a single paragraph.
You can identify these questions by: according to the passage; reason for; and because

2. Open questions – Unlike closed questions, these types of questions try to cover the entire
passage through options.
You can identify these types of questions by: except; none except the following is true or
false

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 15: Local Questions part 2

Open and closed questions are going to have many side-track options. Be aware of these side-track
options. Read the options carefully.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 16: INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS

70-80% of Rc questions are Interpretation questions

They are of 8 types:

1. Inference questions
2. Strengthen/weaken
3. Clarifying questions
4. Author agreement
5. Specific function
6. Assumption
7. Apply to new context
8. Analogies question: similar

VARC Week 3:
LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 1: understanding argument

Basically, argument is set of sentences which includes premise(s) that supports the conclusion.

Premises are just the reasons that support the claim. [because of, due to, leads to….]

Conclusions are simply the claims in the passage. [hence, therefore, because of that reason…]

Premises and conclusions help us to develop a structure of the passage and solve inference-based
questions.

There are also counter arguments. When author does not agree with the argument in the passage,
he introduce his argument (claim supported by premise(s) which can also be supported by secondary
premises(s)).

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 2: understanding inference

There is lot of hype about what inference is?

There are right options and wrong options. Both can be correct solution depending on what question
is asking.

Inference is simply right(true) sentences based on the information given in the passage. THAT’S IT!
LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 3: types of inference

Broadly there are 3 types of inference:

1. Direct Inference – these are inferences that can be directly deduced from the statements in
the passage. It is the intent of the author, that he wants you to know.
2. Implicit or indirect inference – Not direct but has to be true based on the passage
3. Integrative inference – This is the combination of the above 2

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 4: dealing with inference questions

You should have the right attitude to look for a flaw in the options by using BEAST strategy.

Treat If false-> “contradict questions” as “if true-> not contradict” questions

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 5: Assumption questions

Assumption is the link between premise and the conclusion.

Assumption is necessary but might not be sufficient. Assumption is necessary for the argument to
make sense.

Negation test can help to find logical assumption – an assumption when reversed destroys the
argument.

Carefully read the questions as these are set up by evil question setters.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 6: strengthen/weaken questions basics

If premises are true, the new evidence can strengthen, weaken, or remain irrelevant to the
conclusion.

We are not concerned by the degree of strengthening or weakening that the new evidence does.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 7: strengthen/weaken questions

It is slightly easier to identify the options which will weaken the argument. So, keep looking for
weakening arguments and eliminate them to arrive at the one that strengthens.

Read for structure -> Retain key ideas -> Recall?

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 8: Clarification questions

Clarification questions are of 3 types:

1. Closest to the meaning

2. Inference/Implications
 3. Strengthen/Weaken

Most important thing is to look for the flaw in the answer choices.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 9: Author agreement questions

There are 3 types of questions:

1. Agree/disagree
2. Support/oppose
3. Recommend

Basically, these are very easy questions if you understand the argument of the author. That’s it!

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 10: Specific function questions

If you have the good understanding of the arguments, solving specific function questions should be a
piece of cake.

VARC Week 4:
LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 2:

Do not waste your time by reading fast. Do not restrict the time in which you want to comprehend
the passages. The better you understand the arguments in the passage, easier it would be to answer
the questions correctly.

Follow simple approach of: Read for structure-> Retain key ideas-> Recall if necessary

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 3:

How to handle detail anxiety?

When there are many details that are mentioned in the passage, you do not need to know the
meaning of all the terms. We just need to know what is mentioned in the passage and that should be
enough to answer the questions using the BEAST mode.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 9:

Philosophy is very easy to understand as there is always going to be a structure. You just need to
have the confidence that will help you power through the sentences.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 9:

Just because you think that you know about the given topic, do not read it in lazy style. Keep your
style of reeding consistent – read critically.

After each paragraph ask the question why the author has written this paragraph and what he wants
to convey through this.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSSON 10:

Focus on understanding and retaining the passage.

LEARNING FROM LESSON 11: Science passage 1

There is going to be a lot of details in science passages. You can ignore them and track back to them
if the need arises.

Be very open while reading the passage to visualize the passage.

Be very careful while reading the questions. DON’T RUSH THROUGH QUESTIONS. QUESTION SETTERS
ARE REALLY VERY CLEVER. STICK TO THE BEAST STRATEGY.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 12: Science passage 2

Read the all the paragraphs consistently: while the first 3 paragraphs might be easy to understand,
the 4th paragraph might be difficult and contain the key idea of the passage. SO, BE CONSITENT!

How to answer if false questions?

If false-> supports= if true-> weakens

WEEK 5
LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 2:

There are 3 pillars of a paragraph-

1) Unity – Para summary questions are based on this – Unity of idea(s)

2) Coherence – Para jumble questions are based on this logical flow of ideas
3) Cohesion – Para completion is based on this. We must look for certain devices: echo words
(word that is repeating throughout the paragraph), pronouns (he, she etc.) and signal (such
as, this leads to, etc.)
LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 3 AND 4:

Echoes can be clear echoes or feeble echoes (different words, similar meaning).

Pronouns will always have an antecedent.

Your strategy should be to quickly identify these devices. Look carefully for these devices to solve
verbal questions.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 5:

Signals are another strong device that is used to identify the logical flow of sentences in a paragraph.
For example- however, therefore, moreover etc.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 6:

Keep your strategy very simple.

The opening sentence generally do not have pronouns or signals.

Find the blocks (or mandatory pairs) with the help devices: echoes, pronouns, and signals.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 8:

A paragraph might zoom in or zoom out. But generally, it zooms in: it starts with a broad idea and get
more specific. This will help a lot while solving Para jumble questions.

WEEK 6:
LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 1:

Do not look for a perfect summary. You are not going to find one. Instead look for the flaws in the
options.

LEARNINGS FROM LESSON 2:

Zooming in helps a lot to identify the sequence of sentences. A sentence usually starts with broad
idea and narrows down to an example to support the sentence above it.